Art galleries in Liverpool, England are spectacular. Fantastic art, fantastic buildings and most within walking distance of each other. Here is a list of the major art galleries to visit in Liverpool. Also some details of their permanent collections.
Walker Art Gallery
William Brown Street, Liverpool L3 8EL
Daily 10–5
Admission Free
‘And When Did You Last See Your Father’ WF Yeames, 1878
This national status gallery has been open since 1877 in a purpose-built, neo-classical building. Named after a former mayor of Liverpool, an avid art collector, it houses the largest collection of art in England outside London.
Highlights from the permanent collection:
‘And When Did You Last See Your Father?’ by William Frederick Yeames – bought from the Liverpool Autumn Exhibition in 1878 is the gallery’s most popular work. The Pre Raphaelite collection is spectacular and a good selection of Impressionism and British Victorian art. Also, the decorative arts collection is well-presented. An arresting sculpture from street artist Banksy is on loan to the gallery indefinitely. Look for it within the Old Master galleries. The Walker Gallery has recently acquired works from several contemporary artists including Anish Kapoor and Yoko Ono.
Tate Liverpool
Albert Dock, Liverpool L3 4BB
Daily 10–5.50
Admission Free (excludes special exhibitions)
Liverpool’s major modern art gallery is set in the landscape of the Albert Dock. A working dock that got a facelift in the 1980s. Opened in 1988, the gallery is housed within the old warehouse buildings of the dock where there are also plenty of restaurants, shops and cafés.
Highlights from the permanent collection:
Tate Liverpool offers a selection to display from the permanent collection. Highlights include artworks from Eduardo Paolozzi, Francis Bacon, Jacob Epstein, Jeff Koons, Andy Warhol, Piet Mondrian, Amadeo Modigliani and Jasper Johns.
FACT
88 Wood Street near Ropewalks Square, Liverpool L1 4DQ
Tuesday – Sunday 11–6
Admission Free
FACT is an acronym for Foundation for Art and Creative Technology. Founded in 1988 as Moviola, an experimental video project, it became FACT in 1997. This modern building houses four cinema screens and three gallery spaces as well as a popular café and bar. The gallery showcases new media and digital artists. It is worth a visit to explore the architecture and interior of the concrete and glass, purpose-designed building (opened in 2003). All exhibitions are temporary projects.
Open Eye Gallery
19 Mann Island, Liverpool L3 1BP
Tuesday – Sunday 10 – 5 (closed on Mondays)
Admission Free
Launched in 1977, this independent, not-for-profit photography gallery has been housed in various venues throughout the decades. It is now in a prime position at the new Mann Island development at the Waterfront. The gallery is split onto two floors and shows contemporary work and rotating exhibitions from the archive.
The Bluecoat
School Lane, Liverpool L1 3BX
Daily 11–6
Admission Free
The Bluecoat has been housed in the oldest Grade-1 listed building in central Liverpool, a former school building, since 2008. There are four main gallery spaces on two floors and the building inside is an interesting mix of old and new. The building itself lies next to the Liverpool ONE shopping centre. Always showing temporary exhibitions of emerging and established contemporary artists.
Victoria Gallery and Museum
Ashton Street, Liverpool L69 3DR
Tuesday–Saturday 10–5
Admission Free
This 1892 building was purpose-built for University College, Liverpool made from red bricks and terracotta tiling. Check out the tiled pillars as you step through the doors of the Victoria Gallery. Once housing the Tate Library, lecture theatres and offices, it is now home to the gallery since 2008. It is worth visiting to see both the interior and exterior of the building.
Highlights from the permanent collection:
The largest collection outside America of 19th Century wildlife artist John James Audubon. Ceramics, silverware and modern sculpture from Jacob Epstein also feature.
Lady Lever Gallery and Museum
Port Sunlight Village, Lower Road, Wirral CH62 5EQ
Daily 10–5
Admission Free
Just a short train journey from the centre of Liverpool, Lady Lever Art Gallery was opened in 1922 by William Lever, inventor of Sunlight Soap. A visit to Port Sunlight isn’t complete without a visit to Lady Lever. This Grade II listed building houses British art and design from the 18th and 19th Centuries.
Highlights from the permanent collection:
Special paintings include The Scapegoat by William Holman Hunt and The Blessed Damozel by Dante Gabriel Rossetti. There is an impressive collection of furniture and sculpture.
